The losses that triggered write-downs, ended franchises, and sank entire studios. Ranked by estimated net loss (studio figures are never published, so these are widely-cited industry estimates), these are the films that cost their backers the most.
The full ranking
The losses that triggered write-downs, ended franchises, and sank entire studios. Ranked by estimated net loss (studio figures are never published, so these are widely-cited industry estimates), these are the films that cost their backers the most.
John Carter (2012)
Disney took a publicly reported write-down of about $200 million on the pricey, poorly marketed Mars adventure, and it is routinely cited as the single biggest box-office bomb in history.
The Lone Ranger (2013)
Disney's Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp Western prompted the studio to project a loss as high as $190 million, roughly $256 million adjusted for inflation.
The Marvels (2023)
The lowest-grossing film in Marvel Cinematic Universe history grossed about $206 million against a budget reported as high as $307 million, losing an estimated $237 million.
Mortal Engines (2018)
Peter Jackson produced the steampunk epic, which found almost no audience and grossed well under $100 million worldwide against a $110 million budget, losing an estimated $175 million or more.
The Flash (2023)
Called the worst superhero box-office flop in history at its release, the troubled DC film grossed about $271 million against a budget and marketing spend that left an estimated loss near $200 million.
The 13th Warrior (1999)
Antonio Banderas's Viking adventure was plagued by notorious reshoots, grossed only about $62 million against a $160 million budget, and has long been a benchmark bomb.
Mars Needs Moms (2011)
Disney's motion-capture animation grossed just $39 million against a $150 million budget, the biggest single-film loss in nominal dollars when it released.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Despite grossing about $384 million, its enormous budget plus marketing left the Harrison Ford sequel deeply unprofitable, with an estimated loss above $130 million.
Cutthroat Island (1995)
The Geena Davis pirate film grossed about $18 million against a $98 million budget, once held the Guinness record for largest loss, and helped bankrupt Carolco Pictures.
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
DreamWorks's traditionally animated adventure grossed about $81 million against a $60 million budget, and its failure helped push the studio away from 2D animation.
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